Do you know what astonished me most in the world? The inability of force to create anything. In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the spirit. Soldiers usually win battles and generals get credit for them. You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war. If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin pricks that proceed cannon shots. ~Napoleon Bonaparte
19 comments:
Wow, what an amazing insight to war from someone who knew the odd thing or two.
We can learn so much from history yet we still close our hearts and minds to it.
Best wishes for Christmas my dear friend.
Annie
Annie, Well, you have to figure that Napoleon, with all his experience, knew something about war. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Napoleon, was a great General. But everyone has a bad day as he found out. Carla, I'm a fan of Winston Churchill. Now there is a fellow with a plethora of great quotes.
We're Doomed, I agree, Churchill was witty and brilliant and has some fabulous quotes.
We're supposed to learn from history, right? Hypocrisy and irony seems to take center stage as we speak. I'm glad I'm 40. I will enjoy life to its fullest and I'll be dead before the big turd hits the fan.
K
It's so fascinating, to ponder such thoughts...
Toby, It seems,unfortunately, that history was not the forte of many of today's decision makers
Isle Dance, Very much agreed.
If only we would learn from history...
Fida, I'm still hoping.
I, too, thought this was quite a thought from Napoleon. I think the George Bush The Elder Gulf War gave Americans unrealistic expectations of war. In, out. We win, they lose. As it's said, War is hell. It should be avoided at any cost. And even then, never entered into. WWII was supposed to end all world wars; we're just slyer about them now and marketing and public relations just as much as cannons and bombs.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! 500% true. And it starts in childhood. (Teach your children well...)
I love it...perfect...
:D
JBelle, How naive we were to think that there could be a war to end all wars. And they cost so much...especially that PR bit trying to convince us all that we're doing the right thing.
Jannie, Yes, it does all start with children. And often they don't fall far from the tree...which is sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Girl on Tour, Thanks. Merry Christmas to you.
Wow...I didn't expect that quote to be from Napoleon. Was that before or after he invented his ice cream flavor? ;)
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I'll see you for more fun on the other side.
Those are great words to ponder. I was listening, the other day, to a show on radio about a military department called "The office of Lessons Learned"
But who knows what people do with these learnt lessons...
VE, Even the shortest tyrant may sometimes surprise us. Wishing you the best this Christmas season and a wonderful new year.
Pandave, "The office of lessons learned!" That's great. Sounds like it could be right out of a Christmas Carol along with the ghost of Christmas past. I too wonder what happens with these lessons.
This is the argument about the insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan vs. the mighty force of the military. Very timely post.
Paris Parfait, Peace is such a delicate balance, we never really know how close to the brink we really are, do we?
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